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WHAT'S NEW
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7 roadblocks to weight loss success
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Find out what could be foiling your attempts to shed those extra pounds
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By Heather Camlot
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Are you eating right but still unable to lose weight? The likely reason is poor diet and exercise, but there could be other underlying causes keeping you from shedding excess pounds.
Diet
To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than you burn. Eating properly may not be enough. "People are consuming more calories than they realize; from beverages and from foods that are perceived as healthy choices yet have a significant amount of hidden fats, such as cheeses and nuts," says Gina Sunderland, a registered dietitian in Winnipeg. "Also, individuals are habitually skipping meals due to their fast-paced schedules or in an attempt to cut back on calories. This can slow down our metabolism and set us up for overindulging at our next meal."
If your caloric intake is lower than your energy expended, then your body has likely adapted to the new regimen, says Dr. Arya Sharma, a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Rather than cutting out even more calories, it may be best to increase physical activity.
Exercise
Exercise helps burn calories by building lean muscle mass and increasing your metabolism. But, says Lisa Fenton, a fitness specialist in Toronto, "Reaching a plateau in your exercise routine can hinder your attempts at losing weight and getting results." She suggests changing your workout routine, including the exercise type, the order in which you perform the exercises, and the number of sets and repetitions. You can also increase your number of exercise sessions per week, create an exercise plan and hire a trainer.
Drugs and medications
Anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-epileptic drugs -- there are a number of medications that can cause weight gain, but there's not much you can do about it. "If you're taking drugs because of an underlying illness, you can't just stop that medication," says Dr. Sharma, professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., and director of the Canadian Obesity Network. "Sometimes there may be an option to switch to a medication that causes less obesity, but it's not easy in most cases." Meet with your doctor to discuss your options.
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